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After the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has calmed down. Although it might not be considered the absolute best deal in gaming anymore, the service has welcomed several high-profile day-one releases recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a massive collection of hundreds games perfect for weekend-long gaming binges.

Our current picks feature a cathartic action game, an award-winning indie gem, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, everyone needs a bit of catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line offers players intensely graphic carnage against Nazi targets. This year, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the franchise. Although it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a polished dose of simulation World War II open environments packed with Nazi targets. The sniping is as visceral and satisfying as always, featuring the game's trademark killcam showing every bullet's effect in graphic, testicle-crunching detail. It's a violent excitement for every peace-lover looking to unwind in the safety of a digital space.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an award-winning narrative touching on post-pandemic life, family trauma, and other deep themes. It examines these themes through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the only person left of a global outbreak that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's recollections from the time Earth was beset by that terrible disease, as well as experiences of her education and family life, neither of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the plot develops from there. Should all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game does start with a killing. What could be a more compelling opening than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in only nine days is a challenging task, but if any game deserving trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the first game, which is also included). However, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for those in the U.S., it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight protagonists, each representing a different story style. You'll find a investigative tale about a priest looking into the death of his cathedral's archbishop. A merchant aiming to solve destitution through the force of commerce headlines a western-themed narrative. There's even a mystery about an apothecary with memory loss (since all great RPGs require a hero with an mysterious background, of course). A few of these stories intertwine in surprising, intriguing ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution themed world. And the combat is superb — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its purest form.